Editor's Note: This edition of the JJ Update is particularly photo-heavy due to National Night Out coverage. If viewing in Outlook, please allow a moment for all photos to load correctly. Thank you.

As summer vacations start winding down, and we begin to prepare for the upcoming school year, DPS and other state agencies continue to operate under last year’s enacted budget as we await a final budget bill from the N.C. General Assembly. Little to no action on the budget or with bills related to JJDP has occurred within the past month. I will let you know as soon as a state budget is ratified by lawmakers in Raleigh.

Just last week the JJDP management team received an initial, broad analysis of the employee survey we asked that you complete earlier this summer. Thank you so much for participating in this employee satisfaction survey, deployed in late spring. Nearly half of the active JJDP workforce took the time to share their workplace suggestions, comments and concerns; that is a remarkable response rate! We are working to fully analyze the information derived from the survey responses and will share that data once it is available. I do want you to know that we have heard and are listening to your voices and will take to heart and address your concerns and improve your workplace experiences to the best of our ability, especially when it comes to improving communication and expediting the time it takes to hire new staff members.

On the topic of staff recruitment, the JJDP recruitment marketing effort has strengthened over the course of this year, with ads viewed by nearly five million potential applicants using a number of different platforms. Utilizing webinars; hiring events, both in-person and virtual; advertising, via social media, streaming video ads, targeted internet ads, email, streaming audio platforms; and printing materials; and media relations efforts, we are highlighting the JJDP mission, benefits and culture to attract potential applicants. Through the end of June engagement/interaction by more than 90,000 individuals was seen in connection to our recruitment efforts.

When it comes to our hiring efforts, JJDP has taken steps to address issues that are negatively impacting the hiring process, and we are seeing improvements. Our most recent information shows that 31 candidates were given a start date with JJDP during the month of July. We currently have 47 hiring packets awaiting approval at Criminal Justice Standards, which has a weeks-long backlog in approvals. We are actively working with them to speed up this process. To ensure that background checks and salary approvals are completed in a timely manner, and to process and submit certified references for CJ Standards, JJDP HR hired four temporary staff members to work on these. JJDP HR has also put in place a process to ensure continued communications with potential applicant/candidates throughout the hiring process. 

I thank you all for your continued support and efforts within your community connected to the NC S.A.F.E. public awareness campaign on safe firearm storage. We are seeking continued funding, from both state and federal sources, to boost this very important safety campaign, purchase additional educational materials, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the campaign’s messages and tactics, and whether they are reaching as many North Carolinians as possible.  

Media coverage of this campaign was plentiful during the week of action: Data shows that NC S.A.F.E. was mentioned 300 times in June alone by media outlets across the United States. This coverage was positive in scope. Additionally, the website, launched in May, had nearly 24,000 site visits through the end of June, and more than 1,400 downloads of resource material.

Beneath the warmth of the summer sun, youth and staff at two Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention facilities shared days of fun and bonding last month, complete with water-based activities to beat the heat. Lenoir Youth Development Center held its annual Fun Day celebration July 19, followed in short order by Chatham Youth Development Center on July 21.

The latest classes of Juvenile Justice Officers and Juvenile Court Counselors were recognized during a graduation ceremony at Central Office on July 31. Congratulations to these new graduates, and best of luck in your JJDP careers!

Juvenile Court Counselors

Laura Ann Bennett

Tara Rolanda Blue

Morgan Leigh Buffington Domenic Lashea Canady

Taylor Faith Daughtry

JJ Derricott Jr.

Stephanie Dawn Edwards Endaish Destiny Howard

Qunique Brianna Morrison Mellissa Annette Murphy

Trista Anne Sampson

Jennifer Denise Shephard Nathaniel Preston Sykes

Joseph Adam Wagoner*



*These students earned the highest scores in their respective classes and graduated with honors.

Juvenile Justice Officers

Jahmeel Josiah Lee Aiken

Anitra Nicole Amankwah Domimick Robert Bambara Shuniquewa Brown

Annette Clark

Courtney Dudley

Daequez Montrey Griffin

Alison Marie Heil

Kendra Shaniqua Hines

George Arlington Jarrett III

Ada Lavelle Joyner

Gabriela Lianes-Theall

James David MacDonald Mameka Dianna Parker

Jhamiya Poole-Rogers

Darcie Christine Ross*

Shadawn Acosta Ru Rush Samantha Bramwell Samson Todd Adelbert Sheeley

Marissa Jane Shumate

Marcus Glen Stanley

Sha’Corey Mariah Steele

From the mountains to the coast, JJDP staff from a variety of sections took the opportunity to share the division's mission and build relationships with the communities they serve during National Night Out Events held across North Carolina.

District 1 Court Services staff members Eva Anderson, Brittney Woodard, Marvinia Banks and Loretta Bryant brought a JJDP presence to the Pasquotank County National Night Out Event in Elizabeth City.

Court Services staff in District 2 participated in Beaufort County's National Night Out Event on Aug. 1, sharing information about the division and helping promote JJDP career opportunities. Pictured are Charnita Ricks, Kristin Wilson and Sharon Hopkins.

Team members from Court Services District 4 represented the division at National Night Out events throughout their district on Aug. 1. Representing the division at these events were Juvenile Court Counselors Darryl McCaster, Sandra Hill, Tameika Darby, Erica Bostic, Carl Canady, Kera Robertson, Evelyn Grady, Jermaine Simmons, Kim Murphy, Office Assistant Mark Bryan, Youth Counselor Technician Shay Brown, Court Counselor Supervisors Ava Chavis and Tiffany Blackburn and Chief Court Counselor Wendell Boykins.

Chief Court Counselor Sonynia Leonard and Shabrayla Ward represented District 6 with pride during the Northampton County National Night Out. The two were joined at the event by another special guest from NCDPS - Secretary Eddie M. Buffaloe Jr. served as the evening's keynote speaker. Law enforcement, Juvenile Justice Court Services staff, adult probation and other emergency personnel helped make the event a success. 

District 8 Court Services Staff participated in National Night Out Events in Lenoir and Wayne counties on Aug. 1. Staff representing JJDP at these events included Jimmy Summers and Shadecia Ingram (above), Otravia Freeman and Destini Jarman (right) and Nikki Benston (below).

Juvenile Court Counselors Matt Cappello and Doug Sorrell represented District 11 at the Johnson County National Night Out held at Johnston County Community College on Aug. 1. The evening's events were sponsored by the Johnston County Sheriff's Office.

District 12 Chief Court Counselor Jason Hunter and Juvenile Court Counselor Kyle Fishbaugh attended National Night Out events in Hope Mills and Spring Lake on Aug. 1, distributing gun locks and NC S.A.F.E. information to law enforcement and local residents.

District 15 staff split up into teams of two to attend National Night Out events in Alamance and Orange counties on Aug. 1. Court Counselor Supervisor Christy Watson and Juvenile Court Counselor Kendra Gill (above), represented the division in at the Orange County event in Hillsborough, while Chief Court Counselor Amanda Farris and Court Counselor Supervisor Jon Berkeley (left) attended the Alamance County event in Graham.

Court Counselor Willette Oxendine represented District 16 at the Lumberton National Night Out, joining up with the Lumberton Police Department and local leaders to engage with the community.

District 21 Field Service Specialist Terry Colaire and Court Counselors Roshanda Thompson and Chatega Colbert-Lewis attended the National Night Out event in Winston-Salem. In addition to strengthening relationships with the community, the team was able to distribute gun locks, share community resources and highlight career opportunities with Juvenile Justice.

On Aug. 1, JJDP staff from Watauga County participated in National Night Out at Watauga High School. Court Services staff, along with Juvenile Crime Prevention Council members, were present to offer NC S.A.F.E. materials and gun locks to those in attendance. They also held a free raffle for two personal gun safes. JJDP Staff pictured here at the event include Mechelle Miller, Matthew Morell, Keisha Young and Austin Combs. Not pictured is Community Programs Area Consultant Melissa Johnson.   

District 25 staff represented JJDP during an early National Night Out held in Longview on May 2. Pictured are Court Counselors Malcolm Byrd, Eva Sanchez, Lauren Crouch and Court Counselor Supervisor Chauncey Coulter. Also attending the event, not pictured, were Becky Duggan, Larry Hooks, Chris Norman and Ronn Abernathy.

Western Area Consultant Megan Webster joined McDowell County JCPC administrator Linda Burleson and McDowell County JCPC members Tiffany Morgan and Donna Bruce for a night of community engagement during the Marion National Night Out on Aug. 1. Together, the group distributed gun locks and NC S.A.F.E. campaign information, as well as JCPC program information.

The Halifax County JCPC helped promote the NC S.A.F.E. initiative during their local National Night Out event, distributing gun locks and safe firearm storage information in the community.

Maria Jones has been named Director of School Nutrition Services for Juvenile Facility Operations. 

Jones studied culinary arts at Johnson & Wales University, graduated with her bachelor’s degree in healthcare management from Mount Olive University, earned her MPA in healthcare management from Grand Canyon University and has over 20 years of experience in school nutrition services. She has served as a school nutrition administrative officer with JJDP since 2016. Prior to joining DPS, Jones worked with Wake County Public Schools for 13 years, where she managed multiple school nutrition programs.  

Jones believes that school nutrition can be a means to spark creativity and interest, including career paths, for our youth and has been instrumental in developing and facilitating trainings for our facility staff as well as supporting opportunities to engage students in nutrition and wellness activities. 

The Juvenile Community Programs Section welcomes David Nunnery as the new Eastern Area JCPC Consultant.

Nunnery comes to the section as no stranger to the functions and work of North Carolina’s juvenile crime prevention councils, having worked with 11 county JCPCs in his 21 years of service with Methodist Home for Children. He will be serving Bertie, Northampton, Halifax, Wilson, Edgecombe, Nash and Hertford counties in his new consultant role.

While with MHFC, Nunnery served in a variety of positions, including resident counselor, residential program manager, in-home specialist and coordinator/supervisor of in-home services. He is known for his passion for helping at-risk youth and their families and believes that every youth can succeed.  

Nunnery received his bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

He is an avid outdoorsman and loves camping in all terrains, from the mountains to the coast.  

Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Staff teamed up with the Moore County Sheriff's Office on July 27 to share information about safe firearm storage. The effort was part of the Moore County Health Department's Child and Family Wellness Day Event. Approximately 200 local residents attended the event, and more than 100 gun locks were distributed to the public, with one lucky recipient receiving a gun safe. Thank you to all JJDP staff involved for sharing this important initiative with residents of Moore County!

On July 26, Court Services staff in District 25 partnered with the Hickory Police Department to educate local youth regarding the ins and outs of the juvenile justice system. The 25 participants in the HPD Youth Leadership Academy participated in a brief skit as well as a demonstration of secure custody procedures. Staff assisting with this event were Court Counselors Todd Rayfield, Malcolm Byrd, Larry Hooks, Eva Sanchez and Lauren Crouch, plus Field Service Specialist David Hughey. Thank you, District 25 staff, for sharing our mission in the community!

For the past several months, the Juvenile Engagement Committee has hosted a series of engaging activities for youth at C.A. Dillon Juvenile Detention Center. On July 28, the committee hosted a teambuilding activity, introducing youth to the game of Pictionary. The group was able to bring the youth out in two groups of six. This month's session including one youth who uses a wheelchair, and the other youth did a great job making him feel included the whole time. Each session started with each group re-capping the last activity about diversity and inclusion and what that means in regard to those whom they are surrounded by in the unit. Each session culminated in lots of laughter, team comradery and healthy competition. Thank you to all staff who helped provide this meaningful experience for our youth!

District 11 Field Service Specialist Antonio Chalmers participated in the DPS Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Served Institution (HBCU/MSI) Program within DPS-HR to assist college students of Shaw University to move into their dorms on Friday, Aug. 4, while utilizing community service leave. Thank you FSS Chalmers for representing JJDP through community service!

JJDP promotions, retirements and passings are provided by DPS Human Resources on a monthly basis. Longer announcements on these topics may be sent to Matt Debnam for potential publication in the JJ Update. Please include a brief biography, a current photo of the honoree, and their new job description if promoted.

The majority (56 percent) of juvenile offenses in 2022 were for non-serious offenses, class 1-3 misdemeanors. Offenses in this class include, but are not limited to, simple assault, disorderly conduct, simple affray, larceny (items worth less than $1,000), shoplifting, etc.

All DPS employees are eligible to utilize the Responder's Assistance Initiative, a mental health support service provided by the department. Employees and their family members can call 833-747-0185, tollfree, 24/7. The number is staffed by a licensed clinician, who will provide immediate support to identify mental health needs.

Please continue to send in stories, story ideas, and photos

from events in your area that we can share to 

Matt Debnam.

Thank you for your service.